Sunday, May 14, 2017

Movies come dime and
dozen ~ but Telugu tinseldom is different – only they can depict devotional
pictures so well. Today afternoon, it
was real rich visual treat – brilliant depiction, astonishing camera work, rich
graphics showcasing Holy Tirumala hills and surroundings top notch. The action
of Nagarjuna, Anushka, direction of Raghavendra Rao and music of Keeravani all stood out

Yes, it is a movie
review – I was moved in seeing ‘Om Namo Venkatesaya’ – a story of Hathiramji – many aspects of the legend on
how he reached Thirumala, why he was jailed and how Lord rescued him in the
guise of an elephant – all have dramatic impact. It is all about Rama (Nagarjuna) and Lord Venkateswara or
Balaji (Saurabh Jain) as his devotee Rama calls him, are seated overlooking a
precipice, playing a game of dice (pachikalu). Rama, as legend has it, was a reformist
devotee who had to clean up the functioning of the temple. In the cinematic
version, this allows scope for a corrupt
and powerful temple dharmadhikari. The clash between Rama and Govindarajulu,
Rama setting up an ashram and with persuasion setting things right in the
temple premises are all well narrated.

Nagarjuna has been on
this devotional path before, in Annamayya, Sri Ramadasu and Shirdi Sai. He
doesn’t falter in his portrayal of Rama. His journey is aided by Krishnamma, a
Goda Devi or Andal-inspired fictional character played by Anushka Shetty. She wants Rama to convey the essence of Sri
Venkateswara Mahatyam to devotees.

The
most beautiful temple of Lord Srinivasa
at Tirumala Tirupathi in its present form owes a lot to our greatest Acharya – Sri Ramanujar. The very thought of Tirumala and chanting the
name of Lord of Seven Hills would cleanse our souls. Every experience at
Tirumala is so divine, one feels so refreshed and yearns of the next visit ! ..
.. even as one enters and feels the chillness of the mountains, there felt is
the divineness in air – every announcement be it of whatever nature on mike is
preceded by ‘Om Namo VEnkatesaya’ – appeal to devotees follows .. .. ..

When was
the last Tamil film on Hindu mythology released ? – Tollywood needs to be
appreciated for the regular flow. Om
Namo Venkatesaya a 2017 Telugu
devotional film, based on the life of
Hathiram Bhavaji, was indeed inspiring and spellbounding.

On the right hand
side of the Rajagopura and the main entrance of the Holy temple stood a mutt
popularly known as Hathiramji Mutt, which too alongside so many others and the
beautifully ornate 1000 pillared mantap were dismantled a decade or so ago, in
the expansion plan of TTD. It is stated
that the temple before the formation of
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) was under administration of
Hathiramji mutt. It is a matter of
common knowledge that the temple administration [religious side] as also the
other was fully controlled by the PeddaJeeyar Mutt instituted by Sri Ramanujar,
almost a thousand year ago.

There are so many
legends and thiruviladayal [divine plays of Lord] associated with Lord Balaji
of Tirumala. In popular belief is the
one of Hathiramji. Hathiram was born in
Rajasthan, a devotee of Lord Rama, who upon a visit to the holy place, was so
attached to the Lord that he decided to stay here itself and e and set up an
ashram outside the temple. This is the present day – Hathiram Bhavaji Muth
which from its earlier place above the mantap where Unjalseva is now daily
performed now has shifted to a nearby place on way to Vaikuntam complex. It is believed that Lord Balaji was pleased with
his devotion and used to come to his place to play dice with him. On a day,
when Lord want to play with the devotee, his ornament was left there and the
Priests finding the ornament missing, searched and found at the Ashram, thereby
leading to some misunderstanding. When
the King ordered an experiment that was not humanly possible, Lord in the form
of a white elephant helped His devotee and ensured that he was not harmed.

Though there is a thematic depiction of Lord playing dice with Hathiram,
there is no specific image of the Hathiramji in popular culture. Soon, there could be an identification based
on the movie, the part of Hathiramji being played by Nagarjuna.

Telegu
tinseldom deserves credit and telegu
cinema goers are to be appreciated for encouraging such films tinged with
divinity. Here are some screengrabs of the movie put on
ETv today.